{"id":149666,"date":"2025-07-29T17:41:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T17:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pizzatoday.com\/?post_type=topics&p=149666"},"modified":"2025-08-21T08:50:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:50:18","slug":"answering-your-pizza-fans-app-etite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pizzatoday.com\/news\/answering-your-pizza-fans-app-etite\/149666\/","title":{"rendered":"Answering your pizza fans\u2019 APP-etite"},"content":{"rendered":"

Build out your restaurant ordering app to engage with your customers<\/h2>\n

Third-party ordering apps<\/a> have found enormous success and restaurant apps can too. It may be time to develop or update your first-party channel to capture app users.<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason? Food carryout and delivery apps have become a daily or weekly habit for many Americans. Two-thirds of consumers have used a food-ordering app at least once for takeout, delivery or both, according to the Consumer Food Insights Report<\/a> from Purdue University. The study also found that 45 percent of consumers use food-ordering apps at least once per week.<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is a majority of consumers (58 percent) would rather order directly from a restaurant, according to an NCR Voyix\u2019s 2025 Customer Experience Report<\/a>. The study also found that the reason consumers order directly included convenience, customization and loyalty incentives.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consumers, especially those 18-44, have become accustomed to the convenience, speed, order tracking and ease of ordering that come with third-party apps. Those features are now readily available for restaurant mobile apps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Atlanta, Georgia-based Blaze Pizza <\/b><\/span>and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Vocelli Pizza<\/strong> recently updated their mobile app experiences with different goals in mind. <\/span><\/h4>\n

Blaze Pizza<\/a> launched its first mobile ordering app in 2016. What was state of the art then has been updated and enhanced with advances such as push notifications and a news feed. This year, though, it was time for the fast-casual pizza chain to overhaul its app strategy and launch a new ordering and loyalty app with Thanx. \u201cWe knew we had outgrown our previous platform,\u201d says Vice President of Marketing Casey Terrell. \u201cIt was highly customized, difficult to maintain, and slowed down our ability to innovate. With digital now accounting for more than a third of our traffic \u2013 and our goal to push that to 50 percent or higher \u2013 we needed a system that could evolve with us. The timing was right because our brand has been undergoing a broader transformation \u2013 from menu innovation to store redesign \u2013 and this new app is a foundational piece of that digital modernization strategy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Flexibility and ease of use were top priorities for the Blaze team when building the app. \u201cWe needed a loyalty and ordering system that could be updated in real time, without months of development,\u201d Terrell says. \u201cFeatures like card-linked loyalty, in-app exclusives, and personalized messaging were critical to improving the guest experience. We also wanted a more scalable platform that could reduce costs and allow us to move fast without the operational friction of a custom-built solution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Blaze Pizza\u2019s app needed the flexibility to change features, settings and information quickly. \u201cFor multi-unit pizza chains, the key is launching ordering apps that can evolve as quickly as the business itself,\u201d says Thanx CEO Zach Goldstein. \u201cTraditional custom apps are often complex, costly and slow to innovate. Whether it’s updating your menu for local tastes, rolling out a new offer overnight, or personalizing rewards for your most loyal slice lovers, modern tech should make those things easy \u2013 not harder. The days of being locked into clunky, custom systems are over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Toni Bianco joined Vocelli Pizza<\/b><\/span> as CEO over a year ago, he knew it was time to enhance the pizza chain\u2019s mobile experience, while also honing in on the macro scope of engagement and integration. <\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cWe saw an opportunity to improve the customer experience by making it more relevant and seamless across all channels,\u201d he says. \u201cBy partnering with LOKE \u2013 a customer-engagement engine focused on personalization, payments, and ordering \u2013 we\u2019ve been able to deliver a unified digital experience that better reflects what today\u2019s guests expect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He continues, \u201cWe needed the ability to deliver personalized experiences not just through e-mail and SMS, but directly within our mobile app and website. Location-based marketing, customer segmentation and integrated campaign tools were also critical to reaching customers with the right message at the right time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After nine months in development, Vocelli Pizza<\/a> rolled out its new digital footprint and ordering app. \u201cWe can now leverage customer data more effectively to deliver relevant content and offers in real time,\u201d Bianco says. \u201cThat includes personalizing the experience across our digital assets \u2013 from app to web to messaging \u2013 improving customer satisfaction and ultimately driving higher sales.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The key to building out your restaurant apps lies in the strategy and planning. Apps are not one-size-fits-all. Evaluate the needs of your customers, the systems you currently have in place, your engagement and marketing strategy<\/a> and how you will encourage customers to use your app as their go-to dining choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marketing & Conversion to Your Ordering App
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n

A major component of incorporating a new ordering app into your restaurant is marketing it and getting people to download the app and use it frequently. One aspect of your strategy should include converting third-party customers to use your restaurant\u2019s app. Lead with your strengths. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few marketing ideas to convert third-party users to your restaurant’s ordering app:<\/span><\/h5>\n